Valve-operating device



April 14, 1931- H. D. LATHROP 1,800,648

VALVE OPERATING DEVICE Filed April 13, 1928 In ventoz' Hz's Hi2 arm; y.

Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES mourn HARRY D. LATHROIP, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS VALVE-QPERATING DEVICE Application filed April 13,

This invention relates to a valve operating device and has for its object the provision of means for permitting the prolonged intermittent operation of a valve or similar mechanism with a minimum amount of wear upon the permanent parts.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a valve mounted upon a bracket and the valve operating mechanism associated therewith Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the plate adapted to be interposed between the valve and the operating lever; and

Fig. 4 is a face view of the plate shown in Fig. 3.

The invention is particularly designed for use in connection with a valve in which the opening stem has a longitudinal or reciprocal motion and which is operated by a lever having a cam portion which causes depression of the valve stem upon swinging of the lever. Continued use of a device of this kind where the cam lever has direct contact with the valve stem, causes undue wear upon the end of the stem which bears against the cam surface and a groove is often worn upon the cam surface by the frictional engagement with the valve stem. When this occurs an unevenness of operation results and in time it is necessary to replace the valve stem and operating lever.

To overcome this difficulty, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, an inexpensive pivoted plate is interposed between the valve stem and the valve operating lever in such a manner that friction upon the valve stem is reduced to a minimum and the greater part of such wear as is unavoidable takes place upon the interposed plate. This plate is preferably constructed of tin alloy ta or other cheap metal so as to permit of re- 1928. Serial No. 269,708.

placement at negligible expense and, if desired, the plate may be constructed of metal slightly softer than the valve stem and operating lever so that practically the entire wear will occur upon theplate.

The preferred embodiment comprises a valve 6 which is shown mounted upon bracket 7, L-shaped in cross section. A nipple 8, which is threaded into one of the valve connections, extends through an opening in the bracket 7 and carries lock nut 9 which serves to hold t e valve securely in place. As stated, valve 6 is preferably of the longitudinally moving stem type in which depression of stem 10 causes opening of the valve, although it will be obvious that other types of valves may be employed.

Secured to bracket 7 is an enlarged post 11 having a reduced outer end upon which is pivotally mounted lever 12. lever 12 normally in the position shown in Fig. 1, a spring 13 is coiled upon post 11. One end of spring 13 bears against lug 1a mounted upon the bracket 7 and the other end engages lug 15 secured to handle 12.

A plate 16 preferably has one edge formed into a loop 1( adapted to make a sliding fit upon post 18 secured to bracket 7 and the flat portion of the plate is adapted to ride upon the end of valve stem 10. The operating face 19 of lever 12 is formed to exert a camming action upon the plate 16 and consequently cause depression of the valve stem 10 when lever 12 is swung in a counter-clock wise direction in the position shown in Fig. 1. Because of the angle at which plate 16 is disposed relative to stem 10, friction between these two parts upon repeated operation of lever 12 is reduced to a minimum and because plate 16 presents a flat surface against the operating face 19 of lever 12 the wear is evenly distributed upon the latter. As plate 16 be comes Worn, it may be reversed or its position changed by interposing a washer upon the post'l8 between the plate and the bracket 7.

The arrangement shown is particularly adapted for use in connection with machines such as can washing or bottle washing machines in which projecting lugs or the objects operated upon contact with and swing the To maintain ff, a f V 138003348 valve operating lever for; intermittently opening and closing a steam or Washing fluid f rvalveas theobje'ctsare transported through 5' the machine upon ajconveyoi carriage, [In Vinachines of this ;character excessive wear upon the valve and lever parts is obviated and when pl ate 'lfi-is composed-oirmaterial off less hardness than those parts,"piiacticallvthe; entire wearis upon the plate which maybe),

adjusted or replaced as desired. Further,

aevennessof operation becausethe level: 6.53m; 'tactingsurface'. 19 and valve stem 10 retainf their original forms."

y WVhile I have illustrated and described the I preferrediomn- 017; construction for carrying my invention .intozeffiect, it is cap ble o v r friationandgmodification Without departing-- 7 s 'from' thesip jt oftheinve on- Lthe efore, 5 V do not Wish to be'limited' to the'precise details l of construction setjforth, but desire to avall 'myself of; s ujch variations and inodifieationsz r as come Withinthe scope oi the appended --Having ldescribedfl nyinventionsWhat, V j

' ola-i'm as, -n-ewandffdesire-to securehy Letters- \Patentis': Y

operating";-steIn-,1a leve1; ivotallyiinountedad= V t1 1atiQn'Nof1.-saidstem ,apost, adjacent said a v stem, and a plate-jiptvotally rnountedp upon saidipost andadap ted to beiinterposed: l'oetween sai'disteml and-said levenwlsaidpljate:V 7 1 Q cempo'sed ofi'a piecoeiofmetal'having one edge jcurvedto'formaloopadapted to'slidahly-pfit upon, saidpost, whereby the position 01": said platepinay be, reversed or shifted. upon said post;1,- V I 2. The combination of a1 valve having an operating 6111,12, leverpivotally mounted adjacent: said stein-andv adapted tooause the 210- v tuationi of said 'steni, aaipost: adjacent said 7 stem, and a plate pivotally mounted upon said postland adapted to befi nterposed between saidistemfand said lever, said plate; composed o-i'aipieceof metalhaving one edge curved to form, a; loop 'adaptedjtofslidably fit upon. said post,"'whereby the position oflsaid plate may he reveiz sed -or shifted-upon said post and said=platecomposedof materiaLo'f less hard{ I nessthan the contacting -parts,- whereby to abso -11h; the Wear incident to. operation of the In: testimony. hereoffl have'si'gned my nameto this specificationfl" 7 HARRY-DQLATHROP.

transmission of wear. tdthe p'late 16*insur es- LQThecombihatio 03; avalvchaving-a jacentgsaidsteln and adaptedftocausethe ac-- 

